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About me My story

I was very excited when I heard about the project, and was so glad when Anthony Gormley won the proposal. It is an exciting and inclusive artistic project that I am proud to be a part of. My idea was to be the last person on the plinth (although I realise now that I have been allocated a specific slot) so that I could clean it once everyone else had finished. It was kind of an irony statement about women and domesticity as well as being a kind of full stop to the project. But as I have been given a specific slot, I'm not sure this is so relevant now. However, I am thinking at the moment that I will go ahead, and bring my bucket of soapy water and scrubbing brush in order to clean the plinth.

Sunday 19th July. I'm on the plinth tomorrow. Thinking about it a lot, and very excited. I am sticking with my idea of cleaning it. First of all, I'm getting quite good at it, I seem to spend a lot of time cleaning up around my kids, husband, cats... Also, I wanted to actually engage with the plinth itself. And finally, when all those men, George IV, Henry Havelock and Sir Charles Napier were out doing important things, surely there was a woman at home, doing the cleaning.



Comments

  • Hi Rachel. Love the Marigold Rubber Gloves hehe :)

  • It's brilliant how you clean with them high heels darling!

  • Think this is the best hour so far on The Plinth! Well done that lady :-) . Helen

  • My first visit to the plinth, glad you were up there, it made it all the more interesting and fun! Nice cleaning job! Ian xx

  • I was the man in the suit about 44 minutes in you thought was from E-Cover! Oooh. Life becomes art.

  • Strangely captivating - you are just being yourself, except cleaning! I lkie it.....well done x

  • Yes Abi, that was the point. Glad you noticed x

  • A true lesson in cleaning! Vivan las mujeres!

  • It is nice to see that you used Ecover environmentally friendly products. You can be my friend

  • Well done, Mrs. Mopp! Brilliant idea, perfectly executed - hope the irony is appreciated.

  • An inspired idea, I do hope it doesn't get to messed up between now & August 2nd when I'm up there.

  • Liked the bit where you got on your soap box ... at least I think that was the point ...

  • Excellent - great idea.

    can you coem over and do my kitchen floor now ????

    pretty please !

  • Good thinking! I had heard someone say it was sticky (maybe from the woman with the masking tape?). Kudos to you from someone watching on the east coast of the US>

  • Mesmerising! Loving the marigolds.

  • ........This is a brilliant commentry on how women have been precieved throughout time........I expect it was the women cleaning out the caves! Keep on scrubbing.....hope you get the last slot too..........women have been cleaning up after men for too long........women throw off your aprons you have nothing to lose but your brushes!!

  • Fantastic idea. Loved watching it. You were actually quite entertaining and did a great job cleaning as well.

  • Fancy ... dropping your brush like that!

  • Shame on me.....I'm not doing my housework because I'm watching you on line cleaning the plinth! Best wishes.

  • I thought you were a gonna when you dropped that brush !!!!!

  • Absolutely brilliant!

  • You were the 2nd today with the same idea and even same outfit. Still, a great idea. I am now waiting for the first fisher.

  • I bet the woman that was cleaning the plinth from 6 to 7 this morning won't be happy to see that her efforts have been overlooked

  • Great idea. So simple and effective. Irony not lost either!

    As you're doing a job that a council employee should be doing - why not ask Boris for payment in kind! He could put it on expenses!

    The plinth will be spick and span for my bit on July 27. Thank you!

  • Splendid! I wish to be associated with the ironic activity of the current plinther.

  • A delight to watch.

  • Fab idea... well done, very thoughtful :)

  • I think you should be wearing a Super Woman's suit - symbolic of the expectations of women today !

    well done and - great idea

  • Brilliant WHITE??? It certainly needed it!

    sweet portrayal of an everyday mundane task that is often not appreciated! Clever idea, has to be up there with the best of highlights so far.

    Well done Rachael

  • Hey great - perfect performance , if it is a performance or not ...just very real.

  • Brilliant idea and so right that the every day domestic stuff needs to be recognised too.

  • A terrific idea that would have been sooo good as you originally hoped to be the last one up there but I still think it was great. I'm sure the plinthers after you will appreciate it. There has been a lot of "stuff" up there! Viewing from Ohio, USA

  • Great - I had a smilar idea so it's good to see you making the point!!

  • Love the headscarf, you are doing a good job up there, hope the pigeons do not add to your work.

  • Brilliant! You are a highlight of the whole project!

  • Brilliant! I wish I'd have thought of that - actually I think my family wish I would think more about cleaning too! :)

    (Ps - the comment I have just left on the blog is aimed at the critics and I'm not being sarcastic towards you)

  • Love it. Thank you. Really like the idea of elevating the day to day work of living to the heroic level. So genuine.

  • Great idea. Hope you didn't have to scrape off too much chewing gum. You're doing a grand job there.

  • you missed a spot

  • You look magnificent - I love your idea - ok there are no women on horses in Whitehall or Trafalgar Square - but you have made your point. Watching on line from Sussex.

  • Best plinther so far.

  • you look brilliant. we're watching from cape cod. love the soap box. and you xx doll

  • Love it! Simple and effective, when ur finished can u come to mine?

  • Love it - the contrast with the heroic equestrians on the other plinths! Maybe Nelson could identify the 'missed bits' from his vantage point - but then he only had one eye!

  • You should have been sponsored by DAZ - washes whiter :-)

  • will battle through the crowds to get a glimpse. hope you've got some eco products...

  • Tell her she missed a bit!

  • I have been to your house and it was not the cleanest ... perhaps Tim should come and help you do the important bits ........ or supervise what you are doing to make sure you do it properly and not miss any bits .......

    xxx

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    I like ponies, but I also loved your idea. A true inspiration. Two sugars, please.
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    I loved your idea. As did the entire square!
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    You are a genius!
  • Minis
    Minis
    Love the idea! The plinth could probably use a good clean by now!
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    Rachael, sorry we will miss seeing you live - but have a great time. G & S x
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